Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-04-27

thcfo III OonPohy WIN hi' b"hon
and secured lodgings at the Sabine
House. 1t was small inn, we'll and
comfortably kept, and frequented by
patrons Of moderate means. There
were two public houses of more fash
ionable pretensions in the place.
1t was on the afternoon Of Monday
the 14th day of February, that l took
quarters at the Sabine House, and
after tea | requested the landlord To
build fire in my room, which he did
and he also furnished me with a good
lamp. 1t was 8 o'clock, and / sat at
the table engaged in reading, when
some one raped upon my door, |
said, "Come in," and young man
named Labin Shaw, entered, bringing
his carpet bag in his hand. This
Shaw / had known very well as a
clerk of Gabriel Butterworth, but l
had never been intimate with him.
He must have seen the look of dis
pleasure upon my face, for he quickly
said
Pardon me, Mr.. Watson, but /
don't mean to intrude. | have come
down to be present at the examination
to-morrow--summoned by Butter
worth's man, of course-and / got
here too late to get room with a
stove in it; and, worse still, must
take room with another bed in it
and with a stranger for company.
And so, may | just warm my fingers
and toes by your fire, and leave my
carpet bag under your bed ?"
He laughed when he spoke of the
carpet bag; but yet he did not know
what sort of faculty his stranger ROOM
mate might have FIR getting up and
walking off during the night.
Of course ] granted his request,
and he put his carpet bag under the
bed, and then sat down by the stove,
and we chatted socially enough for
half an hour, or more, without once
alluding to the business which had
brought the pair of us to Wiltonburg.
His conversation was pleasant, and l
really came to like the fellow; and l
thought of myself that l had been
prejudiced against him without cause.
At length he arose and babe me good
night, and went away, and shortly aft
erward l retired.
l had been in bed but little while,
when another rap upon my door dis
turbed me; and to my demand of
what was wanted / received an answer
from Laban Shaw. He babe me not
to light a lamp, He had only come
for his night-gown. He could get it
in the dark. | arose and unlocked
my door, and his apologies were many
and earnest. He always slept, in
winter, in flannel Dight-gown, and
he had thoughtlessly left it in his car
pet bag He was sorry--very sor-
ry. He had thought to try to sleep
without it rather than disturb me;
but his room was cold, and
| cut him short, and told him there
was no need of further apology; and
while he fumbled over his bag, l went
to the stove to make double assurance
that the fire was all right He then
went out, and | closed and locked the
door after him, and got back into bed.
But was not to sleep. ] had been
very sleepy when Shaw disturbed me;
but an entirely different feeling pos
sessed me now First came nervous
twilching in my limbs-a "crawly"
feeling as some express it-that sem
sa,ion which induces gaping aud
yawnin", but which no amount of
yawning could sulluc. BY nd.by II
sc,st 81 nightmare ,i"!, upon ne
and, thnuph perfectly awake. Il ',nse
of impending danger POSSESSED me.
At length so uncomfortable did / be-
come in my recumbent position, that
| arose and lighted my lamp, resolv-
ed to replenish my fire, and dress my
self, and see if could read away my
nervous fit.
My lamp was lighted, and as ] re-
turned to the bedside for my slippers.
my attention was attracted by a string
which lay upon the carpet-a string
leading from the bed to the door.
stopped to examine it, and found it
last it both ends. brought the lamp
md took more careful survey. The
string was fine silken trout-line, new
md strong, one end of which disap-
)eared beneath the bed, and the 9TH
n beneath the door In my then
present condition | was suspicious of
vii, and my senses were painfully
Keen. Raising the hanging edge of
he coverlet / looked under the bed.
The carpet bag which Laban Shaw
lad left there, partly open, with the
ilken line leading from it. What
ould it mean ? Had the man acct
Ientally carried the end of the line
way with his night dress without
,oticinp itp I drew the hao ont from